Apparatus comprising an energy source

Abstract

Apparatus comprising an energy source (102) configured to provide energy to an energy-consuming device (106). The energy source (102) can be embedded within an item of furniture. The apparatus also includes a communication resource (104) configured to be in communication with a remote sever (108) in order to authorize delivery of a predetermined amount of energy by the energy source (102) to the energy-consuming device (106).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus comprising:
 an energy source configured to provide energy to an energy-consuming device upon authorization, wherein the energy source is embedded within an item of furniture, wherein the energy source is a fuel cell energy source, wherein the energy source has an identifier indicating a location of the item of furniture and the energy source, and wherein the energy-consuming device includes an application having credentials associated with the energy-consuming device; and 
 a communication resource configured to be in communication with a remote sever, 
 wherein the remote server receives a request from the communication resource indicative of a delivery of a predetermined amount of energy from the energy source to the energy consuming device, 
 wherein the remote server determines authorization for the request based on energy-usage data associated with the energy-consuming device, at least one parameter associated with the identifier indicative of the energy source and the item of furniture, and a handshaking operation from the application on the energy-consuming device providing the credentials to the remote server, and 
 wherein the communication resource authorizes, based upon the authorization from the remote server, delivery of the predetermined amount of energy at the location by the energy source to the energy-consuming device. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is configured to be in communication with the remote sever via the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the energy-consuming device comprises a mobile communications device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication resource is configured to receive a signal representative of an instruction for the energy source to deliver the predetermined amount of energy. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of energy comprises:
 a predetermined absolute amount of energy; 
 a predetermined relative amount of energy, such as a predetermined portion of the energy-consuming device's capacity for storing energy; or 
 an amount of energy associated with a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication resource is configured to send a signal to the remote server that is representative of a request for energy by the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is configured to receive a signal from the remote server that is representative of a specific predetermined amount of energy to deliver to the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 an energy source configured to provide energy to an energy-consuming device, wherein the energy source is embedded within an item of furniture, and wherein the energy source is a fuel cell energy source, wherein the energy source has an identifier indicating a location of the item of furniture and the energy source, and wherein the energy-consuming device includes an application having credentials associated with the energy-consuming device, 
 a server that is remote from the energy source, and is configured to store energy-usage data associated with the energy-consuming device; and, 
 a communication resource configured to be in communication with the server, wherein the server receives a request from the communication resource indicative of a delivery of a predetermined amount of energy from the energy source to the energy consuming device, determines authorization for the request based on energy-usage data associated with the energy-consuming device, at least one parameter associated with the identifier indicative of the energy source and the item of furniture, and a handshaking operation from the application on the energy-consuming device providing the credentials to the server, and 
 wherein the communication resource authorizes, based on upon the authorization from the server, delivery of a predetermined amount of energy by the energy source to the energy-consuming device in accordance with the energy-usage data. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is configured to process one or more of the following parameters in order to attribute a status value to the energy-consuming device:
 an amount of time that the energy-consuming device has already been connected to the energy source for a current visit or in a preceding fixed period of time; 
 an amount of credit on an account of a user associated with the energy-consuming device; 
 a current time of day; 
 a current day of the week; 
 a host control signal; and, 
 another parameter derived from one or more of energy-usage data, user-related data, and information related to non-energy related transactions. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the status value is representative of “encourage to stay” or “encourage to leave”. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the server is configured to process the status value and identify instant deals data for presenting to a user of the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the instant deals data comprises one or more of: (i) value information; (ii) supplier information; and (iii) expiry information. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is configured to transmit a first control signal or a second control signal to the energy-consuming device in accordance with the energy-usage data. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first control signal is an incentive control signal and the second control signal is a disincentive control signal, and wherein the incentive control signal and the disincentive control signal are configured to enable/disable functionality on the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system also comprises a location determining component configured to determine position information, and wherein the server is configured to determine a location of the energy source in accordance with the position information, and authorize delivery of the predetermined amount of energy by the energy source at the determined location. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the determined location is an identifier of an individual item of furniture in an establishment. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is configured to update the energy-usage data in accordance with the predetermined amount of energy that is authorized for delivery. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is configured to update the energy-usage data in accordance with an amount of energy that is delivered to the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server is configured to determine if a request for energy is acceptable by processing the energy-usage data, user-related data, or both. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the server is configured to determine if the request for energy is acceptable by processing the energy-usage data to determine if the energy source has access to sufficient energy to provide the predetermined amount of energy that has been requested. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined amount of energy is only delivered if a result of the handshaking operation is considered successful. 
     
     
       22. A method of operating an apparatus or a system,
 wherein the apparatus comprises:
 an energy source configured to provide energy to an energy-consuming device, wherein the energy source is embedded within an item of furniture, wherein the energy source is a fuel cell energy source, wherein the energy source has an identifier indicating a location of the item of furniture and the energy source, and wherein the energy-consuming device includes an application having credentials associated with the energy-consuming device, and, 
 a communication resource configured to be in communication with a remote server in order to authorize delivery of a predetermined amount of energy by the energy source to the energy-consuming device; 
 
 wherein the system comprises:
 an energy source configured to provide energy to an energy-consuming device, wherein the energy source is embedded within an item of furniture, wherein the energy source is a fuel cell energy source, wherein the energy source has an identifier indicating a location of the item of furniture and the energy source, and wherein the energy-consuming device includes an application having credentials associated with the energy-consuming device; 
 a server that is remote from the energy source, and is configured to store energy-usage data associated with the energy-consuming device; and, 
 a communication resource configured to be in communication with the server in order to authorize delivery of a predetermined amount of energy by the energy source to the energy-consuming device in accordance with the energy-usage data; 
 
 the method comprising:
 receiving, at the server, a request from the communication resource indicative of a delivery of the predetermined amount of energy from the energy source to the energy-consuming device; 
 determining, at the server, authorization for the request based on the energy-usage data, at least one parameter associated with the identifier indicative of the item of furniture, and a handshaking operation from the application on the energy-consuming device providing the credentials to the server; and 
 receiving, at the communication resource, authorization from the server for authorizing delivery of the predetermined amount of energy by the energy source to the energy-consuming device of the apparatus or system; and 
 delivering, based on the authorization, the predetermined amount of energy from the energy source to the energy-consuming device. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a signal representative of an instruction for the energy source to deliver the predetermined amount of energy. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a signal that is representative of a specific predetermined amount of energy to deliver to the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising processing one or more of the following parameters in order to attribute a status value to the energy-consuming device:
 an amount of time that the energy-consuming device has already been connected to the energy source for a current visit or in a preceding fixed period of time; 
 an amount of credit on an account of a user associated with the energy-consuming device; 
 a current time of day; 
 a current day of the week; 
 a host control signal; and, 
 another parameter derived from one or more of energy-usage data, user-related data, and information related to non-energy related transactions. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising processing the status value and identifying instant deals data for presenting to a user of the energy-consuming device. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a first control signal or a second control signal to the energy-consuming device in accordance with the energy-usage data. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining position information associated with the energy source; 
 determining a location of the energy source in accordance with the position information and; 
 authorizing delivery of the predetermined amount of energy by the energy source at the determined location. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining if a request for energy is acceptable by processing the energy-usage data, user-related data, or both. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , further comprising determining if the request for energy is acceptable by processing the energy-usage data to determine if the energy source has access to sufficient energy to provide the predetermined amount of energy that has been requested. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising only delivering the predetermined amount of energy if a result of the handshaking operation is considered successful. 
     
     
       32. A computer program configured to perform the method of  claim 22 .